Movable reed for electric protection



J1me 1953 w. A. BLANCHARD MOVABLE REED FOR ELECTRIC PROTECTION Filed April 10, 1950 T FIGJO 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WILLIAM A. BLANCHARD ATTORNEY June 23, 1953 W. A. BLANCHARD MOVABLE REED FOR ELECTRIC PROTECTION Filed April 10, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w FIG.4

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FIG 5 DNVENTOR WlLLlAM A. BLANGHARD ATTORNEY Patented June 23, 1953 MOVABLE REED FOR ELECTRIC PROTECTION 7 William A. Blanchard, Millbury, Mass., assignor to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application April, 10, 1950, Serial No. 155,043 1 18 Claims. 1

This invention relates to electric protection mechanism for looms preferably of the type wherein the loom is permitted to continue in operation if the shuttle gives indication of its timely arrival at a givenpoint along the lay between the shuttle boxes.

Protection mechanisms for looms are generally dependent upon arrival of the shuttle at the shuttle box to permit continued running of the loom.

If the shuttle is on time it moves a shuttle binder I or its equivalent for the purpose of moving mechanism normally in stopping position to non-stopping position. In some instances the indication has been given electrically by switches which are closed by the binder, but in all such instances there is a very short interval between the timely arrival of the shuttle at the shuttle box and the time at which the loom must be stopped to prevent a warp smash if the shuttle is trapped in the shed.

' It has been proposed heretofore to cause the shuttle to depress a switch operating plunger to give electric indication of its arrival at a given point along the lay between the shuttle boxes. If the shuttle causes the plunger to close a switch at a given time in the loom cycle conditions upon which continued loom operations depend will remain unchanged, but if the shuttle is running slow the switch will be closed subsequent to the given time in the loom cycle too late to counteract the effect of other electric means which by that time will have initiated loom stoppage. The plunger is located, under the warp shed and must be able to withstand any downward force which may be exerted by the warp threads of the bottom warp shed. Furthermore,

the plunger should be able to extend into the path' of the shuttle even though the bottom shed should be above the shuttle race at the time of detection.

It is the general purpose of the present invention to provide electric loom protection means wherein the shuttle operated switch has its condition changed by movement of some part between the shuttle boxes which is independent of vertical forces exerted by the warp or the position of the bottom shed with respect to the lay. This result can conveniently be attained by using a small reed section projecting forwardly into the path of the shuttle so that as the latter passes it will produce a relative rearward movement of the reed section with respect to theremainder of the reed to operate a switch. The reed section may be mounted for pivotal movement on the lay.

At the timeof beat-up it is desirable that all of the reed dents be aligned so that the fell of the cloth may be straight, and it is a further object of the invention to cause the movable reed section to align with the remainder of the reed as the lay approaches front center so that no mark will be produced in the cloth by the movable reed section.

Alignment of the movable reed section with the remainder of the reed for the purposes of beat-up will result in the rearward motion of the section which operates its switch. Closure of the switch at this time would cause unnecessary wear with no useful result or gain so far as the protection mechanism is concerned. It is a further object of the invention to move the shuttle switch out of the path of the reed section at the time of beat-up to avoid unnecessary opening and closin of the switch.

In the modified form of the invention there is a shuttle operated switch at each side of the loom. When the shuttle detectors which operate these switches are out of the Warp shed, or between the warp selvages and the shuttle boxes it is not necessary to align the detector with the reed at beatup, nor is it necessary to move the switches to avoid a second undesired closure when the lay moves to front center.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein two forms of the invention are set forth,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a loom having the preferred form of the invention applied thereto, the loom being of the type adaptable more particularly for weaving paper makers felt and operating pick and pick, although the invention is not limited in all of its applications to this particular type of loom,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section on line 2-2, Fig. 1, showing the reed in its front center position in full lines, in its back center position in dot and dash lines, and in an intermediate positionin dotted lines,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged rear elevation looking in the direction of arrow 3, Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line 44, Fig. 3, showing details of the switch mechanism,

, Fig. 5 is a vertical section transversely of the lay on line 5-5, Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed fragmentary ver-- tical section on line 66, Fig. 2, showing the pivotal mounting for the detecting reed section,

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 12 but showing the circuit for the modified form.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, wherein the preferred form of the invention is set forth, the loom frame I supports a lay 2 provided at its right and left ends with gangs of shifting shuttle boxes RG and LG, respectively, each in the p-res ent instance having two shuttle boxes. The lay is reciprocated in usual manner by a top shaft 3 operating through connectors one of which is shown at 4, Fig. 2, and the loom also has a bottom shaft 5. The shafts are driven by an electric motor M permanently geared to them and in the particular type of loom illustrated each of the top and bottom shafts completes a revolution every pick of the loom, although this feature and the permanent gearing are not essential to I the invention.

The loom has right and left picker sticks PR and PL and picking cams 6 and 1, respectively, operatively connected to their sticks. Slidably mounted on shaft are two picking ball assemblies 8 and 9 which are moved by a train of mechanism designated generally at H) into and out of register with their respective cams. The mechanism [0 is controlled from a Knowles head mechanism indicated at K.

In the operation. or the loom the lay swings backwardly and forwardly and at some time during its back-ward stroke, preferably near its top center position, one or the other of the picker sticks operates to pick a shuttle across the loom to the opposite side. The shuttle remains in flight during the remainder of the backward motion of the lay and generally during a part of its following forward motion. The harness mechanism has been'omitted from Fig. 1, but it will be understood that the loom has a system of warp threads WI and W2, see Fig. 2, controlled by the mechanism K to provide top and bottom sheds through which the shuttle passes. If for any reason the shuttle should fail to arrive at the side of the 100m toward which it is picked when the lay reaches a given point in its forward motion, or at'a given time in each one pick cycle of the loom, it is necessary to stop the loom promptly to prevent a .warp smash.

"The lay includes a wood beam- |2 reinforced with a metal angle l3, see Fig. 2. The beam is provided with a pocket M to receive part of a switch mechanism to be described operated by the shuttle. The reed designated generally at R is in .the'present instance made of three sections, the two sections |5 and It being comparatively long and held in position on the lay in any approved manner and of more or lessusu-al form, and the shuttle detecting section I! located between them preferably centrally of the lay with respect to its length. The reed R establishes the usual reed line at the rear of the path which the shuttle traverses when in flight between the shuttle box gangs RG and LG.

As shown in Figs. 6' to 8 the hand rail I8 is provided with a downwardly opening groove I9 which receives the upper reed rails 2|] and 2| of the long reed sections I5 and I6, and also the short upper rail 22 of the reed section H. A bearing or hanger member 23 is secured to each end of the rail 22 and overhangs the adjacent top rail of a long reed section, as at 24. The hanger members 23 are preferably parti-cylindrical to fit the tops of the rails which they engage and'the groove l9 may be enlarged as at 25 to receive the hangers or supports 23. The latter provide a pivotal support for the upper end of the narrow reed section I! with respect to the adjacent sections l5 and H5. The reed sections I5, l6 and I1 have lower rails 26, 21 and 28, respectively, the latter being movable back and forth within the pocket l4.

' Secured to the back of the wood beam |2 are guides and 3|, respectively, which are grooved tOI'GCGlVG a vertically slidable plate or carrier 32 having thereon a shuttle operated switch SS including a head 33 made of electric insulating material secured thereto as at 34. As shown more particularly in Fig. 5, the switch head has two electric contacts or electrodes 35 and 36 connected respectively to electric conductors or wires 3'! and 38 which pass through an opening 39 in the upper end of plate 32. A bridge contact 40 floats on a stem 4| slidable on head 33 and surrounded by two springs 42 and 43, the former being on the side of contact 40 near the contacts 35- and 36 and the latter being on the opposite side of contact 40. The spring 42 normally holds the bridge contact 40 spaced from contacts 35 and 36, and also holds a shoulder on stem 4| against part of the head 33 so that the forward end 46, the left as viewed in Fig. 1, of the stem 4| projects forwardly from head 33 for cooperation with the short bottom rail 28 of reed section Spring 43 between contact 40 and shoulder 45 permits overtr'avel of the stem 4| after the floating contact engages the contacts 35 and 36.

As shown in Fig. 10 the lower end of reed section I! when in normal position projects slightly forwardly from the lower parts of the longer sections, see, also Fig. 5. Before the shuttle when moving as indicated in Fig. 10 reaches the section I! the shuttle switch SS will be open, but as the shuttle engages reed I! and moves it rearwardly, see Fig. 11, bridge contact 40 will engage the contacts 35 and 3B and thus electrically connect the Wires 31 and 38 and close switch SS. This closure of the contacts occurs while the shuttle is in flight between box gangs RG and LG and at the time the shuttle reaches a given point along the length of the lay. When the reed section moves forwardly its upper end will have a shght angular motion relative to the hand rail I8 and the long reed sections, as will be understood from Fig. 6.

Fig. 12 shows a type of electric circuit which can be used with the invention. The equipment of the loom may include some form of controller 0 for. the motor M which includes a relayv R or itsjequivalent. In the present instance the control is, such that if the relay is energized and keeps .the contacts and 5| closed, as shown in Fig. 12, the controller C will permit continued loom operation, but if the relay becomes deenergized so that the contacts 50 and 5| separate the controller, C will stop, the loom promptly. v

The loom is provided with a normally closed timerv switch TS which controls engagement of blade contact 52 with contact 53 and 0119115 these contacts at the time the shuttle, if running on time, closes its switch SS. Switch blade contact 52 is controlled by a cam 54 on top shaft 3 and opens regularly every pick of the loom when the shuttle should close switch SS, and if the shuttle, is running on time the transformer T can maintain the relay R energized when switch TS opens and the loom continues to run. If, howeventhe shuttle is late and does not close its switch SS until after the timer switch has, opened the relay R will then become deenergized with resultant prompt loom stoppage.

It is to be, understood that the circuit shown in Fig. 12, is for illustrative purposes to set forth one way in which closure of the shuttle switch by movement. of reed section [1 can be made to control the loom, and it may further be stated that the; invention is not limited to a type of shuttle switch which is necessarily open when the reed section I! is. engaged by the shuttle, since it will besufilcient if the reed section when pushed rearwardly alters the electric condition of a switch. a

At the time of, beat-up it is desirable that all three sections of the reed. be in alignment at the points of their engagement with the fell of the cloth, and in order to achieve this result it is another feature of the invention to move the section I! rearwardly into alignment with the sections l5 and I6 as the lay approaches front center. This rearward movement of the section ll at this time would of course close the shuttle switch SS to no advantage, and although closure of the switch SS as the loom beats up will not disturb control of the relay B it is desirable, more particularly with higher loom speeds, to avoid any unnecessary closure of the shuttle switch.

The loom includes in its construction a fixed cross rod 60 to which is secured a rearwardly extending arm 6| held in adjusted position on rod 60 by a clamp cap 62, see Fig. 9. Extending upwardly from the rear end of arm BI is a rod 63 which as shown in Fig. 3 is pivoted to one end of a lever 64 rockable on a stud B5 on a support 66 depending from the under side of the lay. The left end of lever 64 as shown in Fig. 3, and the lower end of plate 32 have a pin and slot connections! by which plate 32 is raised and lowered as lever 64 rocks. The effect of the arm 6| and, the rearward motion of the lay together with the lever 64 is such that as the lay approaches its front center position plate 32v is moved downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 5v to'that shown in full lines in Fig. 2. The dot and dash line position in Fig. 2 corresponds to a rearward position of the lay in which head 33 will be raised at the time the shuttle passes reed section l7.

As a means for normally holding the reed section I! in its forward position a flat or leaf spring is secured as at H' to the beam I 2. This spring has two upright arms 12 spaced to provide room for the forward end 46 of the stem 41. The spring arms 12 engage the, rear part of the bottom rail 28 to hold it normally as shown for instance in the dotted line position of Fig. 2, and yield when reed section I! is pushed rearwardly by the shuttle.

Extending forwardly from the bottom rail 23 is a plunger slidable in a bore .16 in the beam l2 and surrounded by a compression spring ll bearing against a head '18 fixed to rod 15.

Spring 1'! normally holds the head 78 against a small plate 19 fixed to the front of the angle section [3.

The, forward end of stem or rod 15 is positioned for engagement with the head 89 of a. bolt 8| slidable in a bearing 82 fixed to a stationary breast beam wall 83. A compression spring 84 normally holds the head 80 in rearward. position but yields to permit the bolt 8| to move for.- wardly to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 when the lay moves to its front center position.

Before the lay reaches its front center Dosition incident to beat-up the spring arms 12 will hold the rail 28 forwardly against a wall 85. of the beam I2 at the front of pocket I4, but as the lay approaches front center the plunger '15 engages the head 8!} and spring 84 exerts a rearward force overpowering spring 11 and spring arms 72 to move the rail 28 rearwardly against stops 86 carried by plates 87 set into the wood beam l2, see Fig. l. The stops 86 arev adjustable so that when section 1? is in its rearmost position its lower end will align with adjacent parts of reed sections 15 and [6.

As the shuttle passes the reed section I 1 it may push the latter rearwardly against the stops 86, but this will not always be necessary and it will suffice if the shuttle moves the section I! sufficiently to close the shuttle switch SS. It will be understood that this rearward movement of the reed section IT by spring 34 occurs when the shuttle switch SS is in its .lowpositionso that the stern 6| is out of register with the bottom reed rail 28. Unnecessary closure of the shuttle switch istherefore avoided and the. reed has its several, sections in alignment to produce a satisfactory cloth fell.

As the lay recedes the small spring ll returns the head 18 to its normalforward position against plate 19. and the spring arms [2 advance the reed rail 28 so that section I! will again be in detecting position for shuttle engagement.

In the form of the invention thus far described the shuttle detector in the form of a reed section is located at or near the longitudinal center of the laylbut in the modified form two such sections or shuttle detectors can be employed, one adjacent each end of the lay either just inside the selvage, or between the selvage and the shuttle box. The latter, form is shown in Fig. 13 in which the lay 9B is shown as havingshuttle boxes SI and 92 at the right and left ends thereof and wherein the reed 93 establishes the usual reed line for guidanceof thev shuttles. The cloth or fabric is shown at F and the warp threads at 94.

At the right side of the cloth, Fig. 13 there is a shuttle detector 95 located'between shuttle box SI and the cloth, while at the left side there is a second shuttle detector 536 between the cloth and shuttle box 92. These sections may be similar to the reed section described in connection with the preferred form of the invention, except that when the shuttle detector is located beyond same timer switch "TS can be employed except that the cam will be set to open the switch TS a little later in the flight of the shuttle, or cycle of the loom. The two switches SS! and SS2, corresponding to shuttle detectors 95 and 96, respectively, will be similar to those described in connection with the circuit shown in Fig. 12, the cam opening switch TS at the time the shuttle if running properly will close the shuttle switch adjacent the shuttle box which the shuttle is about to enter.

Since detection for shuttle location occurs later in the loom cycle in the modified form of the-invention then in the preferred form the lay will be on its forward stroke and the shuttle will be pushed forwardly by the reed. This insures close engagement between the shuttle and the reed and also insures backward movement of the second of the detectors which the shuttle engages in its flight. When the switches are disposed as shown in Fig. 13 and the shuttle is traveling from box 9| to 92, for instance, it may be that the shuttle will not necessarily hug the reed at the start of its flight, but non-closure of the shuttle switch SSI at this time will be of no consequence, since switch TS will be closed and the relay will be energized. As the shuttle continues across the lay the latter will be moving forwardly by the time the shuttle reaches the switch SS2, and the detector 95, in attempting to exert a forward push on the shuttle, will be moved rearwardly relatively to the lay by the shuttle.

Except for the location of the switches and the omission of certain parts as already indicated, the switches SS! and SS2 and their shuttle detectors 95 and 96, respectively, may be the same as described in detail in connection with the preferred form of the invention.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention sets forth an electric protection for loom in which a small section of reed is moved rearwardly by the shuttle to close an electric switch. In the preferred form the shuttle detector extends across the warp shed lines in a more or less vertical direction and is not subject to any appreciable downward force exerted by the bottom warp threads nor is it influenced in any way by the position of the bottom shed above the shuttle race. It will also be seen that provision is made for moving the detecting reed section I! into alignment with the other regular or normal reed sections I5 and I6 just before beat-up so that in effect the entire reed strikes the fell of the cloth along a straight line at the same time. Furthermore, the shuttle switch SS is so controlled that it is moved down out of operative relation with respect to the bottom short reed rail 28 when the reed section is moved rearwardly for beat-up. In the modified form the shuttle switches can be located between the cloth and the shuttle boxes, but in both forms the switch operator, or shuttle detector, is moved rearwardly by the shuttle. While two particular forms of electric circuits have been shown for carrying the invention into effect, they are not the only types of electric circuits which can be employed, and it will be sufficient if the invention is used in connection with a circuit the condition of which is altered by operation of a switch, incident to backward movement of a shuttle detector normally in the shuttle path, such as the reed section II.

Having thus described the invention it will be seen that changes and modifications of the foregoing specific disclosure may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the in vention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In protection means for a loom having a shuttle which when running properly passes a given point along the lay at a given time in the loom cycle, the loom employing warp threads which shift vertically to form warp sheds, a shuttle detector located at said given point along the lay through which part of the warp threads pass and mounted on the lay for horizontal movement relatively thereto and normally extending into the shuttle path and moved by the shuttle while the latter is in flight across the lay, a normally open switch closed by said detector when the latter is moved by the shuttle, electric circuit means including an electromagnetic device and said switch, and loom stopping means controlled by said electromagnetic device effective to stop the loom upon failure of the shuttle to move said detector at said given time in the loom cycle.

2. In protection means for a loom having a shuttle which when running properly traverses a path across the lay and passes a given point along the lay at a given time in the loom cycle, the lay having a shuttle box at each end thereof, a reed on the lay between the shuttle boxes to guide the shuttle establishing a reed line defining the rear of said path, a shuttle detector between the shuttle boxes mounted on the lay for motion relative thereto and normally extending forwardly of the reed line into the path of the shuttle to be moved rearwardly by the latter when in flight between said shuttle boxes, a normally open electric switch closed by the detector when the latter is moved by the shuttle, electric circuit means including an electromagnetic device and said switch, and loom stopping means controlled by said electromagnetic device eifective to stop the loom upon failure of the shuttle to move said detector at said given time in the loom cycle.

3. In protection means for a loom having a shuttle which when running properly traverses a path across the lay and passes a given point along the lay when the latter is moving forwardly at a given time in the loom cycle, a shuttle detector located at said point extending forwardly into the shuttle path and moved rearwardly by the shuttle when the latter passes said point,'a normally open switch closed by said detector when the latter is moved rearwardly by the shuttle, electric circuit means including said switch and an electromagnetic device, and loom stopping means controlled by said electromagnetic device effective to stop the loom upon failure of the shuttle to move said detector'rearwardly relatively to the lay at said given time in the loom cycle.

4. In protection means for a loom having a shuttle which when running properly passes a given point along the lay at a given time in the loom cycle, a reed on the lay to guide the-shuttle including a reed section normally extending into the path of' the shuttle at said given point but moved rearwardly relatively to the lay by the shuttle during a flight thereof, a' normally open electric switch closed when said reed section is moved by the shuttle, electric circuit means including an electromagnetic device and said switch, and loom stopping means controlled by said electromagnetic device eflective to stop the loom upon failure of the shuttle to move said reed section at said given time in the loom cycle. I

5. In protection means for a loom having a shuttle which when running properly passes a given point along the lay at a given time in the loom cycle, a reed on the lay to guide the shuttle including two sections and a shuttle detector reed section between said two sections at said given point, the warp of the loom passing through all of the reed sections, yielding means holding part at least of the detecting reed section forward of said two reed sections for rearward displacement by a shuttle in flight, a normally open switch closed when said detecting reed section is moved rearwardly by the shuttle, electric circuit means including said switch and an electromagnetic device, and loom stopping means controlled by said electromagnetic device effective to stop the loom upon failure of the shuttle to displace said detecting reed section rearwardly at said given time in the loom cycle.

6. In protection means for a loom having a shuttle which when running properly passes a given point along the lay at a given time in the loom cycle, shuttle guiding reed means on the lay including two sections separated by a detecting section at said given point mounted for pivotal movement relatively to the lay, means holding said detecting section forwardly relatively to said two sections in the path of the shuttle, said detecting section being moved rearwardly into alignment with said two sections by the shuttle when the latter is in flight, a normally open electric switch closed by the detecting reed section when the latter is aligned with said two sections, electric circuit means including said switch and an electromagnetic device, and loom stopping means controlled by the electromagnetic device effective to stop the loom upon failure of the shuttle to move said detecting reed section into alignment with said two sections to effect closure of said switch at said time in the loom cycle.

7. In protection means for a loom having a shuttle which when running properly passes a given point along the lay at a given time in the loom cycle, loom reed means on the lay to guide the shuttle, said means including a detecting reed section at said given point normally forward of the remainder of the reed means and extending into the path of the shuttle to be moved rearwardly by the latter when theshuttle is in flight, an electric switch normally in one condition when the detecting reed section is in the normal position thereof but moved to another condition when said reed section is moved by the shuttle, electric circuit means including said switch and electromagnetic device controlling the latter and effecting a change in the energization of the latter when said switch is moved from said one condition to the other condition thereof, and loom stopping means controlled by the electromagnetic device effective to stop the loom if the shuttle fails to cause said detecting section to move said switch from said one condition thereof to the other condition thereof at said time in the loom cycle.

8. In protection means for a loom having a shuttle which when running properly passes a given point along the lay at a given time in the loom cycle, loom reed means including two sections held to the lay and a detecting reed section at said given point normally forward of said two reed sections, top rails for each of said reed sections, pivotal connections between the top rail of said detecting reed section and the top rails of said two sections enabling the detector section to be moved rearwardly relatively to said two sections by the shuttle, a normally open electric switch closed by rearward movement of said detecting section by the shuttle, electric circuit means including said switch and an electromagnetic device, and loom stopping means controlled by the electromagnetic device effective to stop the loom upon failure of the shuttle to cause said detecting reed section to close said switch at said time in the loom cycle.

9. In protection means for a loom having a shuttle which when running properly passes a given point along the lay at a given time in the loom cycle, beat-up reed means on the lay effective to beat weft into the fell of the cloth when the lay reaches the front center position thereof, said reed means including sections held to the lay and a detecting reed section at said given point mounted on the lay for movement relatively thereto, said detecting reed section normally extending forwardly from the remainder of said reed means into the path of the shuttle to be moved rearwardly relatively to said remainder of the reed means by the shuttle, electric protection means for the loom controlled by said detecting reed section permitting the loom to continue to run if said detecting reed section is moved rearwardly by the shuttle at said time in the loom cycle, and means acting independently of the shuttle operative to align said detecting reed section 'with the remainder of the reed as the lay approaches the beat up position thereof.

10. In protection means for a loom having a shuttle which when running properl passes a given point along the lay at a given time in the loom cycle, reed beat-up means on the lay having a beat-up stroke which is completed when the lay reaches front center position, said reed means including a detecting reed section at said given point normally extending into the path of the shuttle and forwardly of the remainder of the reed means but movable rearwardly by the shuttle, loom protection means controlled by the detecting reed section effective upon failure of the shuttle to move said detecting reed section at said time in the loom cycle to stop the loom, and resilient means brought into action due to forward movement of the lay effective to move said detecting reed section rearwardly into alignment with the remainder of said reed means as the lay approaches the front center position thereof.

11. 'In protection means for a loom having a shuttle which when running properly passes a given point along the lay at a given time in the loom cycle, reed beat-up means on the lay including a detecting reed section at said given point, resilient means normally holding said reed section forwardly of and out of alignment with the remainder of the reed means and in the path of a shuttle in flight along the lay, said detecting reed section being moved rearwardly relatively to the remainder of the reed means by the shuttle when the latter is in flight, loom protection means controlled by the detecting reed section effective to stop the loom in the event that the shuttle fails to move said detecting reed section at said time in the loom cycle, and means operative due to forward movement of the lay and effective prior to arrival of the lay at the front center position thereof to overpower saidresilient means and cause alignment of said detecting reed section with the remainder of said reed means.

12. In protection means for a loom having a shuttle which when running properly passes a given point along the lay at a given time in the loom cycle, said means including a reed detecting section at said given point normally out of alignment with and projecting forwardly from the remainder of the reed means in the path of the shuttle, a normally open electric switch mounted for movement on the lay to occupy positions of cooperative and non-cooperative relation with respect to said detecting reed section, the switch when in the cooperative position being closed by rearward movement of the detecting reed section, the latter normally having two rearward motions relative to the lay one of which is induced by the shuttle at said given time if the shuttle is running on time and the other of which occurs later independently of the shuttle as the lay reaches the beat-up position thereof, electric protection means for the loom controlled by said switch and effective upon failure of the shuttle to close said switch at said given time to stop the loom, and mechanism positioning said switch in said 00- operative position at said given time and positioning said switch in said non-cooperative position when said detecting reed section has said other rearward motion thereof.

13. The loom protecting means set forth in claim 12 wherein said mechanism includes a mounting for the switch movable vertically on the lay and connections between said mounting and stationary means operative due to forward motion of the lay to effect movement of said switch from the cooperative to the non-cooperative position thereof.

14. In a lay for a loom operating with electric protection, a lay beam, reed means including a detecting reed section, a pivotal mounting for the detecting reed section enabling the latter to move relatively to the lay beam, means on the beam normally holding said detecting reed section out of alignment with and forward of the remainder of the reed means, and a switch supported by the lay in position for operation by said detecting reed section when the latter moves rearwardly relatively to said remainder of the reed means.

15. In a lay for a loom operating with electric protection, reed means on the lay including a detecting reed section normally projecting forwardly with respect to the remainder of the reed means but movable rearwardly relatively to said remainder of the reed means, and an electric switch on the lay positioned for operation by said detecting reed section when the latter moves rearwardly relatively to said remainder of the reed means.

16. In a lay for a loom operating with electric protection, a lay beam, reed means on the lay including a detecting reed section normally pro- J'ecting forwardly with respect to the remainder 12 of the reedmeans but movable rearwardly'relatively to the beam, an electric switch on the beam positioned for operation by said detecting reed section when the latter moves rearwardly relatively to the beam, and supporting means for said switch movable relatively to the beam to efiect positioning of the switch in cooperative and non-cooperative positions relatively to said detecting reed section.

1'7. In a lay for a loom operating with electric protection, a lay beam, reed means on the lay including a-detecting reed section normally projecting forwardly with respect to the remainder of the reed means but movable rearwardly to the beam, an electric switch on the beam posi-, tioned for operation by said detecting reed section when the latter moves rearwardly relatively to the beam, and control means on the beam for said detecting reed section effective when moved rearwardly to cause alignment of said detecting reed section with the remainder of said reed means.

18. In protection means for a loom having a lay with a shuttle box at each end thereof and a shuttle which traverses a path across the lay and in each flight thereof passes two given points along the lay, one point for each shuttle box, one point being located between the cloth and one of the shuttle boxes and the other point being located between the cloth and the other shuttle box, the shuttle when running properly passing the point corresponding to the shuttle box toward which the shuttle is moving at a given time in the loom cycle, a reed on the lay to guide the shuttle establishing a reed line defining the rear of said path, a shuttle detector at each of said given points mounted on the lay for motion relative thereto and normally extending forwardly of the reed line into the path of the shuttle to be moved rearwardly by the latter when the shuttle is in flight, a normally open electric switch for each detector closed by the corresponding detector when the latter is moved by the shuttle, electric circuit means including an electromagnetic device and said switches, and loom stopping means controlled by said electromagnetic device efiective to stop the loom upon failure of the shuttle at said given time in the loom cycle to move the detector at the given point corresponding to the shuttle box toward which the shuttle is moving.

WILLIAM A. BLANCHARD.

No references cited. 

